A charter school is an independently run public school granted greater flexibility in its operations, in return for greater accountability for performance. The "charter" establishing each school is a performance contract detailing the school's mission, program, students served, performance goals, and methods of assessment.

Do charter schools charge tuition?

No, charter schools are public schools that receive public funds. They cannot charge tuition for the regular school day. They may charge fees for before and/or after school care.

What is the difference between charter schools and other public schools?

Charter schools are public schools of choice, meaning that families choose them for their children. They operate with freedom from some of the regulations that are imposed upon district schools. Charter schools are accountable for academic results and for upholding the promises made in their charters. They must demonstrate performance in the areas of academic achievement, financial management, and organizational stability. If a charter school does not meet performance goals, it may be closed.

Are charter schools all the same?

No. Charter schools can vary a great deal in their design and in their results. Uncommon Schools creates schools based on the principles and practices that have proven successful in producing significant academic gains at high-performing urban charter public schools across the country.

Who authorizes charter schools?

Who can start a charter school?

Parents, community leaders, social entrepreneurs, businesses, teachers, school districts, and municipalities can submit a charter school proposal to their state's charter authorizing entity.

Who attends charter schools? Whom do they serve?

Nationwide, students in charter schools have similar demographic characteristics to students in the local public schools. In some states, charter schools serve significantly higher percentages of minority or low-income students than the traditional public schools. Charter schools accept students by random, public lottery.

How are charter schools funded?

As public schools, charter schools are tuition-free. They are funded according to enrollment levels and receive public funds on a per pupil basis. In some states, such as Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, and New Jersey, they receive less than 100% of the funds allocated to their traditional counterparts for school operations. In other states, such as California, additional funds or loans are made available to them. In most states, charters do not receive capital funds to support facility expenses. Charter schools are entitled to federal categorical funding for which their students are eligible, such as Title I and Special Education monies. Federal legislation provides grants to help charters to manage start-up costs.

What is a charter management organization?

Charter management organizations (CMOs), generally speaking, are organizations that contract with an individual school or schools to deliver management services. These services typically include curriculum development, assessment design, professional development, systems implementation, back-office services, teacher recruitment, and facility services. Global Outreach Charter Academy is a nonprofit CMO that contracts with individual charter school boards of trustees.

All decisions are made in the context of what is best for the school to ensure student achievement and outstanding academic results.

How can I enroll my child at Global Outreach Charter Academy?

Complete the online Pre-Enrollment Application form or visit us directly at the following address:

The school entrance is through the building’s main lobby. All visitors must immediately check in at the Office and receive a Visitor’s Pass.

Do teachers need to be certified to work at Global Outreach Charter Academy?

Yes. Statutory provisions require teachers employed by or under contract with a charter school to be certified as required by current law.

What types of students are eligible to attend charter schools?

Charter schools must be open to any student covered in an inter-district agreement or residing in the school district in which the charter school is located. However, in the case of a charter lab school, the charter lab school shall be open to any student eligible to attend the lab school as provided in Florida Statute 1002.32, or who resides in the school district in which the charter lab school is located. Any eligible student shall be allowed inter-district transfer to attend a charter school when based on good cause. A charter school may limit the enrollment process in order to target the following student populations:

◦ students within specific age groups or grade levels

◦ students considered at risk of dropping out of school or academic failure

Such students shall include exceptional educational students, students enrolling in a charter school-in-the-workplace or charter school-in-a-municipality.

What is the purpose of charter schools?

The Florida Charter School Statutes require charter schools to be guided by the following principles: ◦ To meet high standards of student achievement while providing parents the flexibility to choose among diverse educational opportunities within the state's public school system

◦ To provide parents with sufficient information on whether their child is reading at grade level and whether the child gains at least a year's worth of learning for every year spent in the charter school

Additionally, Florida charter schools are authorized to fulfill the following purposes:

◦ Improve student learning and academic achievement

◦ Increase learning opportunities for all students, with special emphasis on low-performing students and reading

◦ Create new professional opportunities for teachers, including ownership of the learning program at the school site

◦ Encourage the use of innovative learning methods

◦ Require the measurement of learning outcomes, along with creating innovative measurement tools

◦ Provide rigorous competition within the public school district to stimulate continual improvement in all public schools

◦ Expand the capacity of the public school system

How are charter schools formed?

According to the Florida statutes, charter schools can be formed by creating a new school or by converting an existing public school to a charter school. An individual, teachers, parents, a group of individuals, a municipality, or a legal entity may create a charter school. The concept behind the Florida charter school movement is that community-based organizations, colleges and universities create charters schools to serve students in those communities, with a focus on meeting the needs of underserved students. The charter school developers form a not-for-profit corporation to govern the charter school. Next, they submit a charter application to the local school district sponsor. The district school board reviews the application and makes the decision whether to approve or deny it. If the application is denied, the founders can choose to appeal through an appeals panel.

An existing public school can apply to convert to a charter school if it has been in operation for at least two years prior to the application to convert. This includes a public school-within-a-school that is designated as a school by the district school board. In order to convert an existing public school to a charter school, the school must demonstrate the support of at least 50 percent of the teachers employed at the school and 50 percent of the parents whose children are enrolled at the school.

How many charter schools are currently operating in Florida?

In 2014-15, there are 651 charter schools serving 250,430 students in 46 of Florida’s 67 counties.

How are charter school student enrollments funded?

Students enrolled in a charter school must be funded as if they are enrolled in a basic program or a special program at any other public school in the school district. Each charter school must report its student enrollment to the school district and the school district must include each charter school's student enrollment in school district's report of student enrollment that is submitted to the state.

Are charter schools all the same?

No. Charter schools can vary a great deal in their design and in their results. Uncommon Schools creates schools based on the principles and practices that have proven successful in producing significant academic gains at high-performing urban charter public schools across the country.

What is the difference between charter schools and other public schools?

Charter schools are public schools of choice, meaning that families choose them for their children. They operate with freedom from some of the regulations that are imposed upon district schools. Charter schools are accountable for academic results and for upholding the promises made in their charters. They must demonstrate performance in the areas of academic achievement, financial management, and organizational stability. If a charter school does not meet performance goals, it may be closed.

Why Choose GOCA?

♦Tuition Free Public Charter School

♦Foreign Language Program K-8

♦Early High School Program

♦Foreign Exchange Student Program

♦International Field Trips

♦Gifted Education Program

♦Efficient Class Sizes

♦ After School Clubs & Activities

♦ Extended Day Programs

♦Accredited by SACS-CASI

♦Advanced Technology Classrooms

About GOCA

The mission of Global Outreach Charter Academy is to deliver a first-class academic program that offers a unique foreign language and multicultural curriculum, empowering students to be global leaders of tomorrow.